Zero Shadow Day Bengaluru to Experience with Noontime Sun Directly Overhead
On Wednesday, the city of Bengaluru will witness a unique celestial event known as ‘Zero Shadow Day.’ During which all vertical objects and structures will cast no shadow for a brief period. This phenomenon will occur when the sun is directly overhead. Or at the zenith position, casting no shadow on the ground. The event is expected to take place between 12:17 pm and 12:23 pm, with the peak occurring at 12:17 pm.
To mark this occasion, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru’s Koramangala area is organizing a range of activities on its campus. They invite the public to join them for demonstrations and measurements of shadow lengths. And also to learn about Earth’s rotation speed and diameter. The IIA announced, “Join us on 24 April to celebrate #ZeroShadowDay #ZSD for locations at #Bengaluru latitude. Measure shadow lengths & check out our cool demos! We will work with Bhopal & Chennai to calculate Earth’s diameter and rotation speed!”
What is Zero Shadow Day?
Zero Shadow Day is a rare celestial event that occurs twice a year in regions located between +23.5- and -23.5-degrees latitude. During this event, the sun is at its zenith position, meaning it is directly overhead. This results in all objects and living beings casting no shadows when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) explains that when the sun’s declination. Is equal to the latitude of a specific location, it doesn’t cast a shadow on any object on the ground. This happens twice a year: once during Uttarayan and once during Dakshinayan. During these times, the sun aligns directly with the location’s latitude, briefly eliminating shadows.
Though the alignment only lasts for a moment, the effect of Zero Shadow Day can be observed for a few minutes. In Bengaluru, Zero Shadow Day was observed on April 25 and August 18 last year.
If you happen to be in Bengaluru on this day, it’s an excellent opportunity to experience. This intriguing phenomenon and learn more about the movements of celestial bodies.
